New Cabinet Restarts

Based on Article 54 of Constitution of Japan, Special Session of the Diet was convoked on Wednesday. House of Representatives and Councillors elected Shinzo Abe for 98^th Prime Minister of Japan. Few hours later, Abe established his fourth Cabinet, letting all the Ministers remain. He ordered compilation of supplemental budget to implement his campaign promise in welfare policy. Accepting firm request of the opposite party for discussing money scandals, the term of the session was decided to be for 39 days until December 9^th.

The Constitution requires the Diet to convoke a Special Session within 30 days after the election of House of Representatives. The House elected Tadamori Oshima for the Speaker as in the session before dissolution in September. It also elected Hirotaka Akamatsu with Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan for Vice-Speaker, following the tradition of naming it from the biggest opposite party for the post. Abe was elected to Prime Minister with an overwhelming support from Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.

As expected, Abe reappointed all the Ministers of his Cabinet. “I thank the people of supporting LDP with the greatest number of votes in these three general elections,” Abe told in his press conference after organizing new Cabinet without new face. He stressed his determination to implement the campaign platform of LDP, mainly on welfare policy. He showed his ambition of facing aged society with fewer young agers by promoting “production revolution” and “building human revolution,” recent political agenda which he had been interested in. He did not forget selling his policy of early education for free.

However, newspapers raised a large headline of Abe’s consistent ambition for constitutional amendment. “It is important for every party to submit its own draft of constitutional amendment and make constructive discussion in Commission on the Constitution,” said Abe in the press conference. Realizing his willingness to implement campaign promises as focused on constitutional amendment, newspapers reported Abe’s ambition to accelerate the process of constitutional amendment.

In the poll by Asahi Shimbun right after the election, 45% opposed constitutional amendment under the leadership of Abe administration, while 36% approved. Even if both Houses approve the amendment with two-third majority, it is still unclear whether the draft will enjoy a simple majority in the referendum. One of the candidates for the successor of Abe, former Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida, indicated that dismissal in the referendum would cause resignation of Prime Minister. It depends on how the discussion in the Diet is going.